tour description

Our Signature and most popular tour, the Cape Town to Victoria Falls 20 day tour, highlights Southern Africa’s most incredible sights. Begin your tour at spectacular Table Mountain in Cape Town and travel all the way up to the barren salty flats of the Etosha Pans in Namibia. On the way we will stop to watch the sunrise from the top of Dune 45 in Sossusvlei, paddle down the Orange River in Namibia and visit the bustling town of Swakopmund. From Etosha we travel to Botswana where you can take a Mokoro ride through the Okavango Delta and then watch the sunset on a boat cruise on the Chobe River before finishing your tour in Victoria Falls, the ultimate way to experience Africa!

Our tours come with an Activity Package. This is an optional additional payment that covers what we consider to be ‘essential activities’ on our tours and therefore this itinerary has been written with these items included in the day-by-day itinerary. Ideally we would include all of these, but not everyone can afford this.

Day 1 - South Africa - Cederberg Mountain Region

Leaving Cape Town we make our first stop at Table View and take photos of Table Mountain from across Table Bay. On arrival at our camp, we will enjoy a guided hike in the Cederberg region. Later tonight at our camp, your guides will give you a full briefing on the tour.

Day 2 - Namaqualand - Gariep (Orange) River

After an early start, we continue north via the distant town of Springbok, best known for its diamonds, copper and spring flowers. We then proceed to our camp located right beside the Namibian border. The camp is situated on the riverbank that forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.

Day 3 - Namibia - Gariep (Orange) River - Fish River Canyon

This morning there’s the chance to see the beautiful river valley by canoe or just relax at camp. After lunch we cross the border and travel to the Fish River Canyon. After a scenic walk along the edge of the canyon we enjoy our dinner while watching the sunset. This is also a fantastic photo opportunity.

Day 4 - Namib Naukluft National Park

We arrive at the Namib-Naukluft National Park and set up camp, then enjoy a short hike into the Sesriem Canyon. Tonight we enjoy the star-studded sky and enduring silence of the Namib Desert, only occasionally interrupted by the call of a Jackal or, a rather unique lizard, the barking gecko!

Day 5 - Sossusvlei Dunes - Namib Naukluft National Park

This is our earliest morning as we prepare for our hike up Dune 45 to marvel at the sunrise. After our hike, we will have the chance to visit Sossusvlei. Later we join a local expert on a guided hike and learn more about the unique desert ecosystem and how the Bushmen survived in the harsh desert conditions.

Day 6 - Swakopmund

After a brief photo stop while crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, we travel onto Namibia’s Atlantic coast and the adventure capital, Swakopmund. Just before we arrive in Swakopmund, we stop at the Walvis bay lagoon en route, where there are often flamingos to be seen. You will be briefed on the many optional activities available here and there is time to explore the town before dinner out at one of the local restaurants

Day 7 - Swakopmund

The whole day is free to relax, explore or partake in one of the many activities available here. Most popular activities are quad biking in the dunes or tandem skydiving. On a clear day’s skydiving you can see all the way to the next day’s destination! Taking a walk around Swakopmund’s shops and having a leisurely lunch is also a great way to spend your day.

Day 8 - Spitzkoppe

Leaving the coast we drive through arid landscapes to Spitzkoppe Mountain. The enormous granite monoliths dominate the otherwise flat landscape and we set up camp in the wild plain at the base of the mountain. This afternoon our guide will take us on a guided walk to explore the unique rock formations. The more adventurous among us may want to try some mountain climbing for some stunning views of the landscape.

Day 9 - Himba Tribe

After some early morning exploration we continue north and drive towards Kamanjab. Today we have the chance to experience life within a Himba tribe. The Himba are pastoral people and predominantly breed cattle or goats. They are easily recognisable by their unique style of dress. The Himba have been extremely diligent about upholding the roots of their culture but they are also very curious about visitors to their home.

Day 10 - Etosha National Park

Etosha is the venue for some of the most unique game viewing experiences in Africa. The sparse grasslands allow great opportunities to see animals normally hidden in dense vegetation. You may even see some of the amazing animals crossing the road in front of your truck! We will go on various game drives and spend our evenings at the abundant waterholes for some excellent game photography.

Day 11 - Etosha National Park

Today we spend the day game viewing through the Etosha National Park from the comfort of our Truck

Day 12 - Windhoek

After an early morning game drive we set off towards Windhoek, the Capital city of Namibia. On the way we stop at a popular craft market where you can barter for handmade gifts to take home. Windhoek is not only the capital; it is also the cultural, social and economic centre of Namibia. On arrival in Windhoek our guide will take us on a short city tour in our truck. Joe’s Beer House is an exciting dining experience for our optional dinner out.

Day 13 - Botswana - Ghazi 2014

After an early start, we say goodbye to Namibia and cross the Botswana border. Later we arrive at our lodge in Ghanzi and this evening we experience some traditional tribal dancing from the local San community.

Day 14 - Maun

Our journey takes us from Ghanzi towards Maun. Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and this afternoon we will prepare for this excursion, packing small 2-night bags. There may be an opportunity this afternoon to take a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.

Day 15 - Maun - Okavango Delta

This morning we board the big 4×4 truck that will take us in to the Delta. In high-water season it is sometimes necessary to take a boat to the poling station where we meet up with the members of a local community who will be showing us their homeland. We spend 2 nights bush camping in the wilderness and, if the water level allows, we will take a mokoro (traditional canoe) trip through the waterways. We will also be going on some nature walks in the hope of seeing some wild animals in their natural habitat.

Day 16 - Okavango Delta

Today we will continue exploring the Okavango Delta by mokoro (traditional canoe) and a enjoy a nature walk.

Day 17 - Nata

We leave the Delta behind us and travel east towards the town of Nata, near the Makgadikgadi Pans. The shady tree canopy surrounding the lodge is a hive of activity, with a bird feeding area and active water feature providing the bird watcher with the opportunity of viewing a variety of species from the comfort of the pool deck. The Helmeted Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Yellow Hornbill, Pied and Arrowmarked Babblers, Glossy Starling, Meyers Parrot and Paradise Whydah are just some of the species you may encounter during your stay at the lodge.

Day 18 - Botswana - Chobe National Park

We travel to Chobe and this afternoon we enjoy a sunset river cruise as the animals are best spotted from the Chobe River. Elephants, Hippo, Crocodiles, Eland and many other creatures reside in Chobe so keep your cameras ready.

Day 19 - Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls

On arrival in Victoria Falls town, we have time to plan the next day’s adventure activities before we visit the spectacular Victoria Falls and experience the thundering of the mighty Zambezi. An optional dinner out is a friendly way to spend the evening with all the new friends you’ve made along the way.

Day 20 - Victoria Falls

Although your tour officially ends after breakfast, most people will spend the day White Water Rafting, a not-to-be-missed experience of a lifetime! Vic Falls offers many exciting activities so we recommend you add a post-tour night here.

Itinerary may change without further notice due to weather-, road- or any other condition that OVERCROSS or its guides feel will jeopardize the safety of the group or material.

What benefits can you expect?

Meals as indicated on the itinerary (unless otherwise specified, all meals are prepared and served at the Truck

Dry deserts do prevent due to their lack of water, the plant growth. At theTropics at about 23, 5 degrees, there are so-called tropic deserts like the Sahara.

The high-pressure areas there let the clouds dissolve and there is therefore no precipitate.

These high-pressure areas are established by the intertropical convergence zone. Due to the strong sunlight warms the equatorial region particularly hard, so much water evaporates which prevents the precipitation.Descending air masses lead to the degradation of the clouds.The different types of desert we travelare: stone, gravel, salt and the sand desert.

Stone or rock desert:

Also known as Hammada is covered with dense nature of the blocky, angular fine rock or coarser rock material. These Hamada is the result of the physicalWeathering.

Often, this rocky desert are coverde with boulders.Plateaus crossed that even with a well-developed havy duty off roaders barely passable. On our safari jeep, we usually travel on the old caravan routes, which is usually like in other forms of the desert

Alamat acknowledges. Almat are small stone pyramids were usually placed on increases as route of the nomads and caravan leaders. Along the sandy desert, they are usually blown away, and man recognizes the old and new routes in camel carcasses, old tires and the car frame or other veralssenen those who "runs" line. A typical picture is dark colored and the smooth surface of the rocks of a desert rock, due to the smooth shiny surface it is also called desert varnish, results of flexibility accorded by the sun and the creeping permanent audit by the fine desert sand.

Gravel desert:

In the Western Sahara, they are called Reg, in the central Sahara, they are called Serir. Gravel deserts caused by erosion of stone or rock desert or by theDeposition of gravel where millions of years ago were still glacial. Another cause is aphysical effect on the surface to collect more and more rocks, since the smaller pebbles or sand grains move down much easier. This process was developed in the desert for thousands of years, because provide moisture, wind and temperature differences for the movement of sand grains. When crossing through this gravel deserts you can still see the tracks after weeks of the knobby tires of motorcycles or the lanes of the SUVs and trucks Expeditions:

Salt desert

Chott el Jerid is probably the biggest and most famous salt lake Chott Tunesien.Der term is also used in Algeria and in the Eastern Sahara, the central salt desert, also known as Sebkha. Salt flats occur mostly in arid endorheicSedimentary basins due to strong evaporation. In the Maghreb region of the layer is under-shaped ground conducive to formation of a dei Chotts which Duch promotes its consistency clay to seal the bottom surface. Very many of the deserts lie in the typeIran and Central Asia. Salt flats and salt-containing damp voallem deserts such as the Chott el Jerid, they are difficult if not impossible to impassable. Depending on the depth of the drying Sonneneinstarahlung the salt crust / upper class bedinkt passable. Often arise in wells of only a few Zentiumeter "swamp fields and ponds," weren which should in any case not drive through or walk through. The salt is formed mostly by downwashed up debris from adjacent elevations / mountains, which often contain plenty of salt in endorheic depressions such as the Qattara Depression accumulates naturally as salt-enriched clay and Lehmflächen. This surface is called Salt Flat and Alkali Flats. After precipitation, which are mostly in the winter months, walked these salt lakes.

The sandy deserts:

The erg in the Western Sahara and in the Libyan Sahara is a desert is called the surface mainly consists of quartz sand. This is caused by soil erosion, sand a gravel desert. Due to the absolute dry conditions in the sandy deserts due to the lack of vegitation are much harder than stone or gravel deserts. Because of the fine grading of the sand deserts in the lower part of the carrying capacity is solidified, the surface is rather finely and due to the strong sunlight and fine dust-like sand of Einwehung less viable.In the northern Sahara dunes are found frequently occurring as longitudinal dunes or sickle.In libischen part of the Sahara will find the most beautiful crescent dunes below Seba and the longest sand dunes in Algeria with up to six hundred miles long.

With the motorcycle and 4x4 suv in the solidified dunes levels passable, but difficult or impossible in up to three hundred feet high Mamutdünen how she finds in Algeria and Libya.

The world's largest sand desert in Arabia, where we conduct the tours in Oman and the Rub al Khali Dubai. الربع الخالي ar-Rub ʿ al-Khali is the paradise for every off roader. The turning circle running through the desert of Oman, Yemen, and UAE.

DRINKING WATER:Wewant to make thesafariwith a childand want to knowabout thewaterqualityin South Africa

South Africa'sdrinking wateris one of theworld'sbest:

South Africa'sdrinking wateris among theworld'sbest: South Africais still oneof the fewcountries in theworld wherewater canbe consumeddirectlyfroma majorityof the line.This was announced bySouth AfricanMinisterof Water and Environment,EdnaMolewa, on the occasionof thepresentation of the "Blue Drop2012"reportin Cape Town.The"Blue Drop"Report is anannualnation-wideanalysisofdrinking waterquality.

Hello, I'm cooking and have reuqested with you the Land Rover selfdrifetour. I'm interested in all the subject of food and flea markets. Is there relevant markets on the tour from Johannesburg to Durban to Cape Town?

With the global trend towards regional products in South Africa has developed a thriving market culture. Every Saturday, fill colorful organic and agricultural markets, the towns on the Cape and at present stands the sumptuous culinary diversity of the country. Whether exotic Marula fruit, juicy ostrich fillet or spicy hot curry - the variety of products offered can let any gourmet's heart beat faster. You'll be remembered on all the warm encounters with the stall holders who present their products with passion and make the market unique experience in South Africa.

The classic of the South African market is a magnet for locals and international visitors alike. The The Old Biscuit Mill Market, whose history goes back until the 19th century, Every Saturday enjoyable enthusiastic people drawn to the historic halls of an old mill in Cape Town's Woodstock neighborhood. The stalls offer regional distributors and homemade products from organic farming - of freshly baked bread to the finest cheeses and meats, to locally produced beers.

In contrast, South Africa's capital passes to visitors is no way at Pretoria Boeremark market. This now-legendary market was founded 20 years ago by the local farmer's association, and offers fresh organic produce mainly typical Cape Dutch specialties. Thus protected by the sweet scent of Koeksisters, Vetkoek Melkkos and the market stalls. Today the Pretoria Boeremark much more than just a place to buy fresh produce. For many residents of the city is to visit the market, including extensive breakfast, the start of a perfect weekend.

The Garden Route is a short trip to the small town of Sedgefield, where shifts every Saturday from 08:00 to 11:30 clock city life on the Wild Oats Community Farmers' Market. The market is a treasure trove of products that exist only find here. Stores are offering farmers from the surrounding communities their locally manufactured goods. Then, the organizers of the market high value. Imported goods are nowhere.

The highlight of the culinary calendar is the residents of Durban, on the last Saturday of each month in The Food Market in the Hellenic Community Center in the city. The market offers a full range of regional specialties, it has to offer the eastern province of South Africa. About 50 different levels to provide regionally-produced meat, sun-ripened fruit, spices, pastries, cheeses, olives, fresh juices and biltong.

Market opened in September, the Neighbourgoods in Braamfontein. In the heart of Jo'burg, not far from the bustling district of Newtown, the market brings new life into the urban landscape. Over two floors fill delicate Buffalo mozzarella, homemade beer, cured meat, the finest chocolates and much more the former industrial buildings. For a little time out to visit the market, it goes on the roof of the house for a sundowner and an unforgettable view over the skyline of Johannesburg.

Restaurants in South Africa is filling the page as the subject of meat and preparation that they get on the tour, mostly mediated by the guides.